If you are like me, you are sick of hearing about the Penn State scandal. Not because it’s old news (it’s as relevant as it gets) but because with each passing day, and each new PSU-related article, we are served with a reminder of how out-of-touch, misguided, and in-denial college sports fans (in general) and the Penn State BOT (in particular) can be when it comes to admitting that a beloved icon is capable of wrongdoing.
If Joe Paterno really is guilty of what the [URL=”http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/freeh-report-on-penn-states-handling-of-jerry-sanduskys-child-sex-abuse-reveals-total-disregard-for-victims/2012/07/12/gJQAfVoMfW_story.html”]Freeh report[/URL] says he’s guilty of (and I think he is), then hopefully he is rotting in hell right now, with Jerry Sandusky’s flight arriving soon. But don’t misunderstand me: this is grotesque wrongdoing in the most extreme sense of the word, and I pray that it isn’t going on elsewhere (not that we’d know, because this went on for 10 years or better at Penn State before it became public knowledge). And, honestly, it makes recruiting violations, doctored grades, impermissible phone calls, or dealings with agents look utterly meaningless in the big picture.
But regardless of whether or not Paterno did (didn’t do?) anything, this much is indisputable: there is a sizable segment of the PSU fanbase that will hold him up as a saint, even in the face of such damning allegations. I imagine that, on some level, this is due as much to the fact that many years of their lives were given to believing this man fought the good fight; that he stood for something meaningful. And, as an indirect result, Paterno’s legend is a cornerstone in their entire system of beliefs about sports, and to remove that cornerstone would make them face the fact that there is much more gray in the world than any of us would like to admit.
On an extremely small scale, UK fans can sympathize in a way. Not with defending an enabler of child-rape, but with having to deal with a pocket of the fanbase that comes across as blindy loyal to a fault. Though admittedly, I’d MUCH rather deal with having an idiot “on my side” who takes to twitter to insult a recruit, as opposed to an idiot who says Paterno did nothing wrong.
With that being said, and with the knowledge in mind that Kentucky fans are as bad (good?) as any when it comes to hero worship, I’m going to ask this question: [B]If news that a Kentucky coach, current or former, were accused of something as heinous as child rape, how willing would you be to believe it?
[/B]Now, this is merely rhetorical. I’m not saying that this would ever happen, but what if it came to light that John Calipari (recent title-winner, program ambassador, dream-maker, washer of underprivileged feet, and someone who accepts how demanding the UK job is; in other words, a perfect fit) was guilty of having turned a blind eye to one of his assistants molesting a player in the showers, would you be able to accept that?
What if the name of Rich Brooks (restorer of programs, developer of players, and endearing grandfather figure) came up in documents that alleged he raped young boys?
I’m not trying to ruffle feathers, and [B]in no way am I saying either of these men are monsters capable of such things, because by any accounts I’ve seen, they are not.
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Rather, I just wonder if any of us would be willing to face such possibilities. Hell, there are people who, 40 years later, are still trying to disprove the notion that Adolph Rupp was racist. We curse the name of Billy Gillispie for mistreating his players (in particular) and being a buffoon (in general), but we also know that in 2 years, Gillispie won exactly zero NCAA tournament games.
Again, not picking on UK, but we all know it’s easier to accept some negativity when games are being won. What if, after [URL=”http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andy_staples/03/19/kentucky.west.virginia.harrellson/index.html”]spending halftime in a bathroom stall[/URL], Josh Harrellson goes on to have an All-SEC caliber season? We’d praise BCG for his unorthodox motivational tactics. But an NIT appearance will make such foolishness loom large.
Anywhere you look in college athletics, you will find blind loyalty. It’s part of the charm (curse?) of college sports, or sports in general. We grow up believing in a certain thing, and over time we have an emotional investment, and we think we are fighting for the right thing. Then, when news hits home that one of our own is committing unspeakable atrocities, we dismiss it, because to accept it would be to contemplate our own fears, one of these fears being that childhood (and in some cases, adulthood) heroes can in fact do wrong. For an example of what this looks like, here’s the poor [URL=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySbpVo3iuQ4″]Matt Millen[/URL]. Here he is [URL=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MKAt1rm9QA”]again[/URL]. It’s right up there with finding out about Santa Claus, but instead of being a hero of the holiday season, it ends up being a hero of football season. Or basketball season, which in Kentucky lasts 12 months.
So tell me, BBN. If, God forbid, such accusations were placed upon our collective doorstep, would you be willing to at least crack the door, even if you don’t unlatch the chain? Or would you throw the deadbolt, close the blinds, run upstairs, and climb under the covers, vowing not to come out until it’s safe, and the Boogeyman is gone?
